Welcome to the February issue of BN5 magazine.
With all the talk of Brexit (there, I said it) and the
from the BN5 area
gloom of dark evenings, February can be a tricky
month and we are all feeling the need for some
positivity and motivation! We wanted to find some
things to do, things to look forward to and things
Local Interest
that uplift the spirits, the mind and the body.
Feel Good February - Sarah’s resulting article - Feel Good February
local things to do to feel gives eight very different views and ideas on making
good inside and out!
a positive difference to your health, wellbeing and
outlook. From singing in a choir to trying Pilates,
or a new craft to exercise the creative side of your
brain or perhaps some volunteering outside in
Local Interest
nature to help keep Henfield countryside looking
Connector Plus - Baby beautiful, there honestly is something for everyone.
Why not get out there and try something new!
and Toddler Groups
Alex Nevatt from Connector Plus has written an
article about all the pre-school and baby groups
in the village, please take a look on page 40 if
this is something you’re interested in. Alex will be
Countryside
presenting at the Henfield Parish Council Annual
From Sussex Wildlife Meeting if you’d like to find out about this service.
Trust
Finally, our congratulations to the team at the
Henfield Festival for hosting a really successful
BBC R4 Any Questions in January as part of the
Horsham District Year of Culture, well done to all
Index
the local ‘questioners’ who did brilliantly. HTC’s
of advertisers
Cinderella was a storming success too, what a
great start to the year!

If you have a local interest story for us please email
editor@bn5magazine.co.uk. If your not-for-profit
club, group or charity has an event you would like
us to publish on our what’s on pages, please submit
via our website www.henfieldbn5.co.uk, this gives
you additional automatic website entry. Please
note we no longer accept postal or email diary
submissions due to potential inaccuracies when
transcribing. Priority is given to local, charitable and
non-repeating events when we are oversubscribed.

Stay
Serving a wide range of
beers, lagers, wines and
spirits. Our restaurant
offers an a la carte menu,
light lunches and traditional
Sunday roasts and breakfast
at the weekend.
Our smart Hotel rooms
have limited availability
over the winter months so
book in advance to avoid
disappointment.

FEBRUARY 2019 | News
supporting actors. Trevor Hodgson and Lauren
Morley were also nominated for best actor award.
Indeed, the company was nominated in 10 out
of the 15 categories. In addition to those already
mentioned, nominations were received for Best
Set Design, Best Costume Design, Best Stage
Crew and Best Director. It was a great evening
for Henfield.
Martin Love

HENFIELD SCOUT COMMUNITY
CENTRE BUILDING APPEAL - A
WOW WEEK!

HENFIELD THEATRE COMPANY
WINS COVETED AWARD
It was a triumphant evening for Henfield Theatre
Company (HTC), at the Brighton and Hove
Arts Council Drama Awards, held last month at
BHASVIC. The awards event is rather like an
Oscars evening and HTC was up against the best
local amateur drama groups. To their delight, and
for the second year running, the Company was
awarded the cup for Best Overall Production.
The award was given for their October 2018 play,
‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’, directed by Sheila Nye.
Adjudicator Jane Collins stated in her summary
that “She took her hat off to the director….this
remarkable company transported us to New
York in the 1930s….the accents were spot on
and the cast lived their parts absorbing us as
an audience into this intense, sweet, funny and
unsettling play”. The production was set in the
round and she made special mention of this fact
and the effectiveness of the lighting. Technician
Mike Cawte’s work won the Best Lighting award.
She commented on the excellent acting by the
younger members; Ewan Fairchild was superb in
the lead role and the adjudicators had nominated
Saskia Monteiro and Raphael Key Barry for best

After years of hard slog fundraising, finally a week
to lift our spirits!
Firstly, the BP Guild very kindly donated another
hard earned £5,000. We then raised £1,130
recycling Christmas trees, with a lot of help from
Alec and his pals from Burleys Tree Surgeons,
Henfield Fencing, Downs (Southern) Ltd, builder
Tony Westwood and a collection of ever helpful
BP Guildsmen. Our next surprise was a pledge
of £5,000 from Horsham District Scout Council,
followed the next day by the big one, £50,000
from The Rampion Fund at Sussex Community
Foundation!
We are getting ever closer to our goal, the fund
now stands at £165,000 with pledges of £35,000
in goods and services from local companies, so
another £100,000 will see us breaking earth and
starting construction on the new centre.
Please contact Dave Malkin on 01273 493843 or
email David.malkin@henfield-scout-cc.org if you
have a company that, in return for a tax break,
could donate goods or services to the Appeal, or
if you’d like to make a cash donation to continue
our happy momentum. Finally, we’d like to thank
everyone who has kept faith in us throughout the
years and helped us get to this point in the quest
for a new Scout Community Centre.
Dave Malkin, Henfield Scout Community Centre
Appeal

Cinema at the Henfield Hall brought to you by

www.touringcinema.com
Check our website for updates

Mary Poppins

(U)

Tuesday 19th February 7.30pm
Tickets from Marcus Grimes, Coopers Way, Henfield IN PERSON ONLY.
Tickets
from Jasmines
Florist,
High Street,by
Henfield
PERSON
ONLY.
Advance
tickets can
be purchased
credit IN
card
ON LINE
fromAdvance tickets can
bepurchased by credit card ON LINE from www.touringcinema.com. Sign up for your FREE
www.touringcinema.com
email alerts!

CLASS OF 1977
This is the last class taken by Mr Jones in July
1977. Kenneth Jones moved to Henfield in the
early 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and countless children were taught
by him. The museum has a number of school
photographs in its collection, mainly from the Girls
School in the Edwardian period. The thing about
school photographs is in most cases we have no
idea who the children are, because nobody puts
the names on the back. This is also the case with
the class of 1977. If you can help identify these
children, who are now in their fifties, please get in
contact with the museum.
Alan Barwick

1 6 | B N 5 M A GA ZINE

You could be forgiven, following the amount of
work you were involved in via public consultations
and meetings during the latter part of 2017 and the
early part of last year, if you thought the production
of the second Henfield Neighbourhood Plan had
gone off the radar.
I can assure you a great deal of hard work has been
done throughout the whole of last year towards
the production of a second plan, but I have to
report that we have not been able to make the
progress we hoped to achieve. This has been in
large part due to the appraisal of the large number
of sites that came forward in our Call for Sites in
August 2017. The production of the Sustainability
Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment
(SA/SEA) is an essential part of the evidence base
for both Local and Neighbourhood Plans.
At the outset of our second plan Horsham District
Council offered to undertake this work on behalf
of the community. We were grateful to accept this
offer and agreed with them at meetings in October
2017 and January 2018 to a timetable that would
see the SA/SEA process largely completed by July
2018.
Unfortunately, that work, at present confidential, has
only just reached that stage at the time of writing.

For more news go to... www.henfieldbn5.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2019 | News
That has therefore delayed our ability to allocate
sites to deliver the 260-273 homes Henfield Parish
needs to deliver during the plan period up to 2031.
A great deal of work has been done by myself and
my colleagues in drafting general policies and
preparing our Pre-Submission Plan and once we
have allocated the most sustainable sites, we can
draw all this work together in preparation for our
Regulation 14 Consultation across the plan area,
which is all of Henfield Parish. This will give you
further opportunity to comment on our work so
far with the potential to influence the plan content
going forward.
Work has also been carried out by other volunteers
to update the Village Design Statement which may
be incorporated in the plan to give it greater weight
and our thanks are due to them.
Please be assured the plan is moving forward,
albeit at a much slower pace than we would like.
Ray Osgood, Chairman Henfield Neighbourhood
Plan Steering Group.

THE HENFIELD SHED HAS MOVED!
Members of The Henfield Shed have been busy
during January relocating the charities’ workshop
to a new home in the buildings behind Southdowns
Galleries in the High Street. This move has been
completed in time for the celebration of our first
anniversary! Trustees and members of the charity
are very grateful to Rita Prodger for her amazing
kindness in allowing us to use these buildings as
our workshop whilst our search for a long-term
home continues.
We are also indebted to Rob Laughton and Fiona
Ayres of Stokes Newsagents for their generosity
in allowing us to use the garage in the garden of
Stokes as our first workshop. The success of the
charity in its first year is without doubt due to the
generosity of these very special individuals and
the incredible enthusiasm of the local community
for The Henfield Shed. Thank you all!
Please come and see us in our new workshop
if you would like to find out more or email info@

henfieldshed.org.uk if you would like us to
visit you at home to discuss membership for
yourself, a friend or family member. We are open
weekday mornings from 10am Tuesday – Friday
inclusive and welcome all adults. Our website,
henfieldshed.org.uk provides information about
how our workshop has become the go to place
in Henfield to build friendships whilst engaging
in creative projects which help other local people
and the community.
Zena Cairns, The Henfield Shed

MY LIFE IN TELEVISION: SIMON
NYE
As part of the Horsham District Year of Culture,
St Peter’s Church will be hosting an evening with
celebrated local author and screenwriter Simon
Nye. Best known for his TV series ‘Men Behaving
Badly’ as well as more recently ‘The Durrells’,
Simon will be chatting with the audience. Tickets
for the event on 12 February are available from
Village Care.
There are many events to look forward to – keep
an eye out for further details in the ‘what’s on’
section of the magazine over the coming months
and online at www.bn5magazine.co.uk as well as
henfieldfestival.weebly.com.
Editor

VILLAGE CARE WIN WEST SUSSEX
COUNTY TIMES COMPETITION
Village Care in Henfield won the West Sussex
County Times Christmas window dressing
competition, voted by readers as the best window
in the County. The competition was in addition
to Horsham District’s Window Wonderland
competition, where finalists were presented in the
County Times and readers invited to vote for their
overall favourite.
Tina has worked really hard to make her shop
viable and attractive and is a very well- deserved
winner. A true asset to our Village High Street.
Editor

I am pleased to report the Henfield Club finished
2018 on a high note and goes into its 100th year
with darts now happening regularly on a Monday
evening and the Club’s Snooker teams performing
well in the Mid Sussex Snooker and Billiards
League. The year finished with a well-attended
Quiz on 30 December which was won by the
Warrens.
It is with considerable pleasure I can confirm Roz
McCormack, the highly rated and popular Psychic
- Medium, will be returning to the Henfield Club to
entertain us again on Sunday 17 February. Doors
will open at 6.30pm and the show will begin at
7pm. Tickets are £15 and will be available from
Jasmines Florist in the High Street.
We are looking forward to 2019 being a significant
year for the Club and are eager to expand the
Snooker teams so, whether you want to learn to
play or are an experienced player, please come
and have a look with a view to joining the Club.
Membership starts from just £10 a year and beer
is only £3.60 a pint, so it’s inexpensive to enjoy
membership of probably one of the oldest clubs
in Sussex.
Please call into the Club or contact Entertainment
Officer Andy Manuel on 07724 496610
Andy Manuel

SUSSEX PRIVATE HIRE
A new taxi service has started in Henfield. Chris,
owner of The George Hotel, spent the summer
months struggling to book a taxi for his customers
and hotel guests. Often resorting to calling a
taxi from outside the area, he decided to launch
Sussex Private Hire, running from The George
Hotel for local journeys and Airport transfers.
The service is already proving popular and through
Chris’s contacts can have up to 3 cars running
around the village at any one time. For more
details, please see the advert in this issue of BN5.
Chris Edworthy

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
The 2019 World Day of Prayer (formerly known as
the Women’s World Day of Prayer) will take place
at 2pm on Friday 1 March, and this year, Henfield’s
Evangelical Free Church will be hosting it.
Every year the service is prepared by the women
of a different country: this year it is Slovenia’s
turn. The service is a mixture of prayers, readings,
and hymns, including music from the country
preparing the service, and prayers reflecting the
thoughts and hopes of the women of that nation.
Refreshments will be served after the service and
all are welcome! More details are available at www.
wwdp.org.uk.
Sidonie Winter
1 8 | B N 5 M A GA ZINE

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL
Over the weekend of 7-8 December, Henfield
Free Church held their Christmas Tree Festival
with attendance of around 800 people enjoying
the displays over the course of the weekend. The
hand-bell ringers and carols singalong were also
well attended on the Saturday.
Congratulations to the winners of the children’s
Christmas trees, Hannah Butter and Bryony Stubbs
and Jake West and Harmony Verrell who were the
runners up. The winners of the people’s vote for
best trees were: Best overall – Women’s Institute,
Most creative – Men’s Shed, Most wanted in own
home - Oscar Bears Day care.
Andrew Lawton

At the beginning of another year the Short Mat
Bowls Club is still thriving and still inviting you to
join us. If you are unsure of what we do, then know
that it’s the same game with basically the same
aims as the outdoor game that you have seen
out on the grass in summer. This game is played
throughout the country - indoors (with no rain) on
a special surface that enables the bowls to play
in just the same way. Please come along to the
Henfield Hall any Friday morning to watch and get
a free coffee.
This year, on the last Friday of every month, we
are going to dedicate one mat - we have four - for
coaching and helping any who need it. So, come
and try - we all enjoy the game very much and you
might as well - it’s a great way to spend a cold grey
winter morning.
We operate as a normal club and have matches
with other friendly nearby clubs; we have a couple
of social lunches each year which are great fun.
This last Christmas, for the first time, we ran our
lunch as a fund raiser for the local St Barnabas
Charity, and that was very successful.
So, it is a great friendly club to join and we will help
you to play it, and I know you will be glad you tried.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Derek Rogers

CHRISTMAS STARTS HERE REVIEW
On Thursday 6 December 2018, the Henfield
Friends of St Barnabas House presented
‘Christmas Starts Here!’ at the Henfield Hall. This
concert, arranged by Nigel and Sidonie Stevens,
raised over £1,400 for St Barnabas Hospice, a
worthy cause close to all our hearts.
The evening featured solo items, festive medleys
and amusing anecdotes as well as community
carols and a really enjoyable evening was had by
all.
Nigel Stevens
Competitive Prices!
Local
One off cleans
Homes

News | FEBRUARY 2019
ABSOLUTE PROOF:
PETER JAMES
Inspired by an unforgettable,
real-life phone call received by
the author nearly 30 years ago,
from a mysterious but altogether
credible source, Absolute Proof
marks a major milestone for
publishing phenomenon Peter
James, as his most epic and
ambitious stand-alone thriller to date.
What would you do if you received a phone call
from a stranger claiming to have absolute proof
of the existence of God? As newspaper journalist
Ross Hunter soon discovers, it’s not information
everyone is happy to share with the world.
After being given the clue that sets him off on a
heart-pounding race from Glastonbury to Egypt
to LA, Ross finds himself pursued by a billionaire
con artist, the CEO of a shady pharmaceutical
company and representatives of the world’s most
powerful religious leaders – all with a vested
interest in solving the biggest mystery faced by
humankind.
Known for his fast-paced, gripping stories
that thrust regular people into extraordinary
situations, Peter James has proved himself to
be one of the world’s most successful writers,
delivering number one bestsellers time and time
again. His Superintendent Roy Grace books
have been translated into thirty-seven languages
with worldwide sales of over 19 million copies.
Before becoming a full-time author, he produced
numerous films, including The Merchant of Venice
starring Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons.
Caitlin Allen

individuals going through times of crisis. They
do this both through supplying food parcels and
by supporting clients emotionally, physically and
spiritually, as well as signposting them to other
agencies across the city for expert advice when
this is needed. As a Christian ministry, the Food
Bank team see it as a privilege to share their faith
with clients and offer prayer when it is desired.
They also run a Fuel Aid scheme. A small number
of carefully selected families and individuals,
struggling with heating their home, benefit from
this grant scheme. In addition to this, for those
being housed for the first time, the Food Bank
team can assist with a Start Up Home Pack, which
consists of some essential items, such as kitchen
equipment, a towel, and some bedding.
Donations of foodstuffs and toiletries for the
Food Bank can be left in the basket in the Free
Church foyer on weekdays when the church is
open (normally on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
mornings).
Ron Stanford, Henfield Free Church

THE GEORGE FUNDRAISING
After the overwhelming support for the Brain
Tumour Trust walk and other events in the village,
Leisha and Chris at The George wanted to see if
they could help raise some additional money for

COLLECTION POINT FOR
BRIGHTON FOOD BANK
As part of its support for the Brighton & Hove
City Mission, the Henfield Free Church provides a
collection point for the Mission’s Food Bank.
The Food Bank’s mission is to help families and

2 0 | B N 5 M A GA ZINE

For more news go to... www.henfieldbn5.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2019 | News
the charity. Helped by the group of musicians who
have a monthly get together at The George, they
decided that an open mic night would be a good
way of bringing people together and raising money.
For 3 hours people were entertained by musicians
and singers of all ages. At the final count they had
helped The George raise £287. Leisha and Chris
would like to thank everyone involved who helped
make it the event a success.
Chris Edworthy

MARCH BN5 - LATER DELIVERY
We print 4,900 copies of BN5 each month, most
delivered via Royal Mail with the remainder placed
in over 60 collection points across the area. Next
month our March issue will be delivered slightly
later than usual, from Monday 4th March, because
although we book 12 months in advance we were
unable to secure an earlier booking. The April issue
will be delivered on Monday 1st April.
Editor

01273 494002

Beautiful two bedroom bungalow
For a quiet retreat or family holiday in Henfield village
contact Kate on 07779 998221

www.henfieldbn5.co.uk | 2 1

News | FEBRUARY 2019
NEW TODDLER/BABY GROUP
The newly formed Henfield Ducklings will be
meeting in the Henfield Hall every Tuesday 9.3011.30am. Their first meeting took place on 8
January and was well attended so do please do
come along and join in the fun. Please bring in your
own snacks and drinks. Suggested contribution of
£2 per family.
Please spread the word as much as possible
so that friends, parents and carers can join us,
everyone is welcome. You can also visit our
Facebook page, ‘Henfield (and surrounding Areas)
Baby and Toddler parent’s group’. We look forward
to seeing you all soon.
Rebecca Cornell

BP GUILD NEWS
Our Village Christmas Tree in Henfield was kindly
donated by Jeremy’s and transported by Peter
Booth (PHB Contractors). It was erected with the
help of Sean Preston (Southdown Engineers) who
loaned the crane and driver/operator. It has been
returned to the earth by the BP Guild and proceeds
given to the Scouts Community Building Appeal.
The next Jumble & Auction will take place on 16
March 2019 at the Henfield Hall. Thank you to our
hardworking volunteers.
Kenneth McIntosh

2 2 | B N 5 M A GA ZINE

GUILD MEMBER STEVENS ESTATE
AGENTS SHORTLISTED FOR
REGIONAL PROPERTY AWARD
The Guild of Property Professionals is proud
to announce that Guild Member Stevens
Estate Agents (Henfield) has been shortlisted
for a Regional Property Award, based on their
exceptional service within the property sector
during 2018. Winners will be announced at an
awards event on 17 January 2019 at the QE11
Centre in London.
“As exclusive Members of The Guild of Property
Professionals, we are part of a prestigious network
that values knowledge in integrity and results.
Together we are raising industry standards for the
better and ensuring that we provide our customers
with a high-quality estate agency experience. We
are thrilled to have been shortlisted for a Regional
Property Award, it is a testament to our hard work
and dedication over the past 12 months,” said
Kevin Joyes, Director of Stevens Estate Agents.
Stevens Estate Agents are a family run business
having opened in Henfield in 1988 and operate
from a prominent office within the High Street. The
business prides itself on delivering a first-class
service achieving the best possible price, in a
friendly, helpful and courteous way.
Kevin Joyes

For more news go to... www.henfieldbn5.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2019 | News
box. As you leave refreshed, uplifted and
rejuvenated, you will be inspired to give your
garden at home an injection of winter colour!
Wakehurst is run by the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew. For more information on Wakehurst or to
plan your visit, see kew.org/wakehurst
Georgina Richards

MARY HOW TRUST 30TH
ANNIVERSARY APPEAL

WAKEHURST’S WINTER GARDEN
A stunning new Winter Garden has been planted at
Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Ardingly,
West Sussex. Flourishing from mid-January, the
garden is the perfect place to chase away the
winter blues.
Long nights and dull, cold winter days – it’s easy
not to make the effort to leave the house unless
you have too. But, if you are brave enough to pull
on a warm coat and head outside, you will be
richly rewarded. Exercise, especially in a beautiful
and natural environment, has been shown to lift
the spirits, clear the mind, and make you feel
relaxed and refreshed.
And, this is exactly what garden designers set out
to do when planning the new Winter Garden at
Wakehurst.
Planted by horticulturists and volunteers in early
2018, the beauty of the Winter Garden is now
emerging – shimmering bark, soft foliage and rich
scents. As you set off on the winding path, you will
encounter an incredible 33,000 plants across 5,500
square metres. Flowers and shrubs are woven
together with mature trees, creating a stunning
blast of colour against a wintery landscape.
The Winter Garden is a great place to draw
inspiration for you own garden – or even window

The Mary How Trust was founded 30 years ago
to offer health screenings for the early detection
of cancer and other serious illnesses. The charity
makes its health screenings available to people
from all walks of life, asking for a donation based
on ability to pay, rather than charging a fee.
To mark its 30th anniversary, the charity launched
its ‘£30 For 30 Years’ appeal to raise funds for
two important projects: a new ultrasound scanner,
and diagnostic supplies for its blood laboratory.
Thanks to a warm response from across the
community, the charity has reached its first target
of £30,000 for the new ultrasound scanner, which
will use the latest technology to offer even more
detailed health information.
A major award from the Big Lottery Fund launched the
second phase of the appeal, which will raise £30,000
for diagnostic supplies for the charity’s laboratory.
Fundraising Manager, Roanne Moore explains, “The
lab is at the heart of all we do and means your blood
tests can be analysed quickly and accurately. It costs
£30,000 a year to keep the laboratory running, and
it’s wonderful to have the support of the Big Lottery
Fund to help us on our way.”
The charity is holding a variety of fundraising events
in aid of its Anniversary appeal and is encouraging
its supporters to get involved with some fun and
simple ‘30’-themed fundraising ideas that can be
found on its website. If you would like to donate
to the appeal, find out more about how you can
get involved, or request a health screening, please
visit www.maryhowtrust.org.
Roanne Moore

News | FEBRUARY 2019
PATCHAM SILVER YOUTH BAND
Spaces are now available in our friendly youth
band. One free terms membership for new
joiners then £1 per week, payable in term time
only. This includes an instrument if needed. We
have members from across Sussex and rehearse
on Friday evenings 7-7.45pm. Our rehearsal
venue is near the A27/A23 junction and on the
number 5 bus route from Brighton. Visit www.
patchmansilverband.co.uk or call 07803 605516
to find out more.

LEONARDSLEE CRIME FESTIVAL:
2-3 MARCH 2019
HAVEN EXTENSION IS OPEN!
The new extension, funded by a Big Lottery grant
as well as a huge fundraising effort by Henfield’s
Team 777, is now open and being used, two
months ahead of schedule! Downs Southern
completed the build and the extra space is being
warmly welcomed by visitors and the Haven.
We’ll bring you more news of the ‘official’ opening
soon, as well as some more photos and thankyou’s. Congratulations to all involved for creating
a community space for Henfield to be proud of. Do
pop in for a coffee and take a look!
Editor

The Book Lovers’ Supper Club has announced the
first Leonardslee Crime Festival, to celebrate the
best of crime writing in the South East of England.
On 2 and 3 March 2019 many of the UK’s bestknown crime writers will visit Leonardslee Lakes
& Gardens at Horsham, West Sussex, to entertain
audiences in a series of specially-crafted events.
Tickets start from £35. For more information and
to purchase tickets visit www.leonardsleegardens.
co.uk/leonardslee-crime-festival/.
Patrick Rea

ACTION FOR DEAFNESS
Action for Deafness will operate an NHS audiology
service at Henfield Medical Centre.
The Hearing Aid Maintenance clinic will run every
Tuesday, 9.30am–12.30pm from 8 January 2019 at
Henfield Medical Centre.
Laura Ajidahun, Action for Deafness
Note from BN5: Our apologies for any confusion
due to incorrect information published in January’s
BN5 magazine regarding the Action for Deafness
clinics. Unfortunately we received notification of
this change after January issue had been printed.
We updated our website and Facebook page
with the change immediately. Please go to our
website www.henfieldbn5.co.uk for the most up
to date information, or follow us on Facebook for
alerts and updates, often we receive details after
the magazine is printed and this is a great way
of staying in touch with what’s happening in the
village.
Editor

FRIENDS OF ST PETER’S
HENFIELD ORGAN RECITAL
The Friends of St Peter’s Henfield will be hosting
an Organ Recital by Stephen Davies at St Peter’s
Church, Henfield on Friday 1st March at 7pm.
Tickets £12.50 to include wine and nibbles
available from Village Care, Henfield mid February
or on the door.
Diana Halsey
2 4 | B N 5 M A GA ZINE

For more news go to... www.henfieldbn5.co.uk

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ebruary can sometimes be a dark and difficult month: the excitement of Christmas and New
Year is long gone, but the longer, warmer days of Summer still seem a way-off. So why not
challenge yourself to change all that this year and to feel good this February?
Feel-good February is all about trying a new activity to boost your self-confidence, which in turn can
help boost your overall happiness and wellbeing. What it’s not about is setting yourself unrealistic
goals or trying to be something that you’re not.
The list of things you can try is endless, many of them for free, but we’ve spoken to some local experts
to see what they recommend to give you some inspiration. Whether you want to relax more, get fitter,
eat better, de-stress, look good or learn a new skill, our Feel Good February experts have something
for you. We’d also like to hear your top tips for a feel-good February and you can share them with us
via our Facebook page.
Sarah Butler

3 0 | B N 5 M A GA ZINE

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M

ovement is something we all take for
granted, until we start to feel those
little niggles of pain and stiffness,
or we suffer an injury. How we move has an
enormous impact on our enjoyment of everyday
life and so learning how to move better will not
only help us to feel better but also to live better.
Liz Marks of Pilates Evolved has been teaching
Pilates for 15 years in Henfield and has had
success with people of all ages: “Whether you
are looking to improve your general mobility
or increase your sports performance, Pilates
improves the way you move and the way you
feel. By focussing mindfully on movements and
on breathing within classes, this allows for the
ultimate ’switch off’ time to de-stress and, at the
same time, improve whole body strength and
flexibility.”
As well as the physical benefits, there are
substantial social and mental wellbeing
benefits to Pilates too as Emma points out:
“Practicing Pilates in a group is a regular and
sociable commitment. Our classes are friendly
and welcoming, with many of our clients now
knowing each other well and becoming buddies
outside of class.” She went on: “Many of us are
finding it increasingly difficult to switch-off from
the constant flow of emails, work pressures and
family commitments. Lots of our clients find that
their dedicated weekly sessions are ’sacrosanct’
for focusing purely on their own health and
wellbeing.”
Liz and her team love teaching in the village
and really value being part of the community.
“It’s great being a part of our clients’ movement
journey and observing the real changes and
benefits that Pilates delivers. My top tip for
Feel-good February would be to make a
commitment to your health and wellbeing,
invest in your movement and spend time in
nature. It’s easy to set intentions in January and
to feel by February that the time has past. It is
never too late to begin. We are launching brand
new Absolute Beginners courses in February
and looking forward to introducing more of the
village community to the benefits of Pilates.”

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ocal fused glass artist Pauline Findlay
believes that making art for your own
enjoyment benefits both the mind
and body in many ways. “So much of our
lives is spent rushing around after everyday
commitments such family and work, so
embracing things that can reduce anxiety and
stress, and clear the mind will make you feel
better.”
She runs creative workshops for groups of
friends, couples and work colleagues: “I often
get repeat bookings because once people have
had a go, it inspires them to have more ideas.
I also have a couple of groups of regulars who
do a session once a month - they love doing
the glass work, but also love the social aspect
too. I’ve worked with a few lovely individuals
who are going through some difficult times and
they are the first to say that losing themselves
creatively has been very therapeutic. You can
lose yourself in the moment and divert your
mind from worries and negative thoughts.”
Pauline hasn’t yet had anyone who isn’t
impressed with themselves at the end of one
of her sessions, even if they don’t consider
themselves to be at all creative. “I think working
in fused glass is very organic and forgiving. I
always say if the bit of glass doesn’t cut out
exactly as they planned it doesn’t matter - the
piece will evolve! It is lovely to see people of all
ages learning new skills, growing in confidence
and observing their absorption in the activity
itself and then their excitement at achieving
something.”
Being creative is beneficial in other ways too
as Pauline points out: “There are so many
different aspects to my work that I love; I love
the challenge of thinking up new ideas; I really
enjoy the problems solving aspects - how can
I get a certain effect or overcome a structural
challenge? The very act of cutting the glass and
laying it is very absorbing and gives me a real
buzz! And finally, I love meeting new people,
teaching new skills and sharing my techniques
to help them realise an idea.” Pauline’s top tip
for Feel-good February is: “Do something
creative – you might just surprise yourself!”

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s an activity, singing is hard to beat
as something that leaves you feeling
fantastic. Whilst singling alone in the
shower or car is fun, singing with others as part
of a choir brings people great joy as well as
numerous health benefits.
As a professionally trained singer and conductor
of local choirs, Zoe Peate is well versed in the
many social, physical and psychological benefits
of singing: “Singing, apart from the obvious health
benefits of using your lungs, is also great fun,
good for your brain, offers social interaction with
other singers and is totally rewarding when you
get that positive audience feedback!” she said.
“Choirs and their members are like an extended
family - you can find new friends though singing.
Many members have found singing to be a
great healer too after experiencing something
traumatic in their lives.”
Zoe conducts four choirs: Cantatrice, which
consists of two choirs under the same name,
one in Steyning and one in Horsham; Vocal
Fusion Acapella, which is a men’s vocal group;
and the Kaleidoscope Singers, which is a more

challenging chamber choir. This involves all aspects
of administration, including deciding on the music,
finding venues and concert opportunities and
organising posters and programmes.
Although Zoe trained and performed professionally
as a singer, she has found working with amateurs
has broadened her musical tastes: “Rehearsing
singers, helping improve their singing and hearing
that development is wonderful thing. It has given
me a greater understanding of all the many
characters I work with and a wonderful sense of
fulfilment - I love it! My choirs are my inspiration the more they improve the more I do!”
As well as the choirs that Zoe is involved with,
there are numerous other local choirs, including
community choirs which don’t require auditions
such as the Jolesfield Community Choir, the
Brighton Male Voice Choir and the Chanctonbury
Chorus.
We asked Zoe what her top tip was for Feelgood
February: “The only person judging you is
yourself! So many people say ‘I always wanted
to sing’ so why not make February your time to
jump in to singing feet first to feel good!”

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and Reflexology Therapists
Angie Cridland and Caroline
Rowley of Henfield Holistics
recommend that everyone
takes regular ‘time-out’ to give themselves an
opportunity to stop and think about how they feel
both physically and emotionally.
And what better way to do this than through the
healing power of touch? As Angie points out:
“Holistic treatments can help you to learn how
to relax again and make you feel better about
yourself – I love it when a client leaves with a smile
of serenity on their face.”
Angie and Caroline offer a range of holistic

f you aren’t feeling great, it can be hard to
keep up with the stresses of life, whether
they’re caused by work, family commitments,
ill health or a combination of all three. Massage
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The place to go for everything Henfield... www.henfieldbn5.co.uk

treatments from their tranquil studio in Henfield, all
of which are tailored to suit the individual. Caroline
says: “All our treatments help the body to relax and
can help with symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia
and headaches. Massage is particularly good for
helping to reduce the debilitating effects of pain,
whether physical or emotional, enabling you to
lead a more active life. I particularly like getting to
know each client individually and bringing about
real differences in how they feel physically and
mentally.
Angie continues: “As well as inducing a deep sense
of relaxation, reflexology stimulates blood flow
to all areas of the body, increasing cell regrowth

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eeling confident and healthy is what we all
want to achieve, but sometimes justifying
the time or attention spent on ourselves
is more difficult. However, as any good beauty
therapist will tell you, that small window just for you
is certainly time well spent, leaving you energised
and ready for what life has to throw at you.
Natasha from Natasha’s Beauty has been a beauty
therapist for 19 years and her favourite treatments
are the ones that leave people feeling good in
themselves, glowing with health, relaxed and
invigorated. She’s fully embraced the direction
the beauty industry has gone in, towards a more
holistic, organic and natural approach. “It’s about
sitting down and letting someone take care of you,
letting go of what’s going on in your life and the
great feeling of being pampered,” she said. “We
use organic treatments and mineral products, our
aim is to work in harmony with nature rather than
against it.”
Being part of Henfield is also hugely important to
Natasha. “There’s a lovely sense of community in
the village and I’ve made great friendships with
other high street traders, I feel so lucky to live in
such a beautiful village where I can walk my dog in
the countryside and take my children out on their
bikes, or walk them to school.”

01273 494002

and encouraging a state of balance. Regular
treatments have helped clients with various longterm health issues including immunity and sinus
problems, hormone-related issues and chronic
fatigue syndrome.”
Angie’s top tip for Feel-good February is to take a
moment at the end of each day to acknowledge
and write down all the good things that have
happened: “Then on days where you are
struggling to find anything good, you can reflect
back on happier times, ending the day on a
positive note!” For Caroline, her top tip is to treat
yourself to a monthly massage or reflexology
treatment: “Your body will thank you for it!”

Natasha’s salon is
not only a relaxing
place to go, but
the
laughter
endorphins
are
usually put into
action too! It’s
a happy space
where customers
can come out
feeling
much
better
about
themselves
and more positive. “I love
connecting with my clients and
I’ve built up some fantastic
friendships, lots of them have been with me from
the beginning and watched me grow into being a
wife and a mother, and I’ve seen all the changes
in their lives, too. We have a lot of fun and there’s
nothing better than seeing someone leave the
salon feeling happy, confident and positive,” said
Natasha.
And Natasha’s top tip for Feel Good February?
“It’s cold out there and we’ve all been hibernating
and suffering from a lack of sunshine. The harsh
elements can make our skin feel sluggish, so treat
yourself to a hydrating mask or a facial, you’ll be
ready to face the day feeling regenerated.”

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ccording to advice from the British Heart
Foundation, a healthy diet can help reduce
your risk of developing coronary heart
disease and stop you gaining weight, reducing
your risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. It
can also help lower your cholesterol levels and
reduce your risk of some cancers. Even if you
already have a heart condition, a healthy diet
can benefit your heart. However, knowing where
to start when trying to eat more healthily can
sometimes be a real challenge.

Luckily, we have some experts on-hand in the
village at Cornerweighs health food store where
you can find a whole range of wholefoods,
including organic and vegan ranges, healthy
snacks, vitamins and supplements as well as a
range of self-serve mueslis, nut and fruit mixes.
Owner, Susie Russell-Smith, explains what
inspired her to open a health food shop: “I had
been looking for specific supplements which were
only available in Horsham or Brighton but not all
in one shop. I never thought that 22 years later I
would still be doing it - I love it!”
For Susie, healthy eating is just one aspect of
leading a healthier lifestyle: “I could not imagine
living another way. All aspects of healthy living
fit together, and all aspects benefit from attention
and nurture. Ask a gardener - a beautiful garden
doesn’t just happen, but daily attention reaps
huge rewards. If you focus on one area too much,
then the others will suffer.” Cornerweighs is a real
treasure trove for healthy living as it also stocks
a wide variety of hygiene products (shampoos,
soaps and face creams etc) and eco-friendly
cleaning products.
Susie’s top tip for Feel-good February is to ‘just
do it’: “There is nothing worse than having a job
you know you should have done hanging over
you. If you ‘just do it’ this keeps you mentally
strong and other things seem to slot in to place.
Enjoy the lighter evenings too: 15 extra minutes
a week - that’s a thought to make anyone smile!”

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ocal conservation volunteer John Willis has
been interested in natural history ever since
he was a young boy: “I remember going on
lots of picnics and walks over the South Downs
and Ashdown Forest and rooting around in the
rock pools at Black Rock, Brighton before ‘money
making’ lost that wonderful habitat to the concrete
jungle that is now The Brighton Marina. All of
this was a little boy’s exploring paradise before
technology changed later generations’ attention.”
John still loves the great outdoors: “To get out into
the many habitats that our lovely village is lucky
enough to possess can open your eyes to a new
natural world. Look around at your surroundings
and very soon you can start to identify plants, birds
and animals that you had never noticed before. To
hear a cuckoo or a nightingale on a spring day is
uplifting or to see swifts and swallows arriving for
summer from far away Africa lifts the soul.”
The exercise of getting out and about is just as
important for our wellbeing, as John points out:
“To walk across our three Commons or down to
the river where peace and quiet preside is a great
tonic and allows our minds to leave behind our
everyday problems. You will feel the benefit and
meet like-minded people.”
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John helped to start the Henfield Conservation
Volunteers over 18 years ago: “I still manage to
participate with the same enthusiasm, although
now with less physical stamina! There are three
Commons in the parish to work on, plus The
Tanyard, and other parcels of land which the
Parish Council are responsible for maintaining.” He
continues: “The work can be very varied including
reduction of invasive non-native plants such as
bamboo, cherry laurel and wild rhododendron.
There are many ponds to maintain and several
streams to keep flowing, and tree whips and wild
plants to introduce or encourage.” As with many

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volunteer organisations, there is more work to do
as time goes on, but it’s becoming increasingly
difficult to recruit new volunteers, especially from
the younger age groups. John has also been
a member of the Henfield Birdwatch since its
inception, and for many years has helped in the
monthly Parish survey which gives indications
of how our local birds are surviving or not as
the case may be. In 2019 the Birdwatch group
is undertaking a massive exercise and asking as
many Henfield residents as possible to record their

garden birds on a regular basis in order to help
build a comprehensive picture of avian life in the
village.
John’s top tip for Feel-good February is to get out
and join a local walking group or to volunteer with
Henfield Birdwatch or Henfield Conservation
Volunteers: “It is February and it’s still winter of
course, but wrap-up warm, get out of the house
and investigate the natural world. It’s all there for
you, it’s free, and my goodness it does you good this comes with a money back guarantee!”

Amanda Lucas www.amandalucas.co.uk

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or Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer
Sammy Bremner, exercising more is
something that can literally be life-changing.
We are not talking about turning yourself into a
gym bunny or training to run a marathon, (although
you may want to do those too!), but rather just
increasing your level of fitness in order to make
you feel better about yourself.
Sammy has first-hand experience of the benefits
of exercise: seven years ago, she decided to get
fit in order to raise money for a charity close to
her heart. Not only did she achieve her fundraising
goals, but it also led to her changing her career
to work in a field which she was passionate
about: “I saw the transformation in myself and
wanted to help other people achieve the same. I
love watching my clients develop and reach their
fitness goals, whatever they are.”
The health benefits of regular exercise are
numerous and well documented, even if it’s just
20 minutes a day: Physically it will help you to
sleep better, be more productive, live longer,
strengthen your bones, lower your risk of injury,
increase your flexibility, lower your blood pressure,
prevent weight gain, lower your risk of serious
illness (including stroke, heart disease, diabetes
and cancer), increase your energy levels and
boost your immune system. Mentally, the moodboosting endorphins that regular exercise gives

01273 494002

you will help boost your self-confidence, ease
symptoms of depression and anxiety, manage
your stress levels and generally just make you feel
good about yourself!
If you are new to exercising knowing what to do
can be quite daunting. A one-to-one session with
a personal fitness instructor is a good place to
start in order to work out what your goals are and
how best to achieve them. Sammy says: “The gym
and fitness classes at Henfield Leisure Centre are
very social way of getting fit and now with the lift
installed, even those people with reduced mobility
can access them.”
But getting fitter is not just about the gym, as
Sammy points out: “There’s so much more to it
than that. It’s about leaving the car at home and
walking more, taking the stairs rather than the
lift, dusting off your bike and taking it for a spin,
getting back into team sports, taking up dance,
going for a walk in your lunch hour or following an
online yoga class from the comfort of your front
room.”
Sammy has two top-tips for Feel-good February:
“Make fitness a gradual lifestyle change, rather
than just a fad for a particular month or event.
And when you’ve had a really stressful day and
are tempted to skip your exercise and stay on
the sofa, don’t! Exercise is the perfect way to
make yourself feel better.”

B N5 M AG AZ I NE | 3 5

Contemporary Original Handmade Fused Glass
Beautiful unique gifts for the home and garden, to buy, or with
Paulineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help make your own personalised piece in a workshop.
A great way to spend time with friends or family, have some fun,
make memories. No previous art success or experience required,
just enthusiasm and a willingness to have a go!
Workshops can be tailor-made to you and your groups
requirements.

For prices and details on...

- Workshops (sessions for individuals or groups of up to 8 people)
- Vouchers for workshops
- Open Studio dates/Events

To make an appointment...
Please visit my website; www.studioshards.co.uk

“Hello
If you seek good health and are looking for
a well-stocked health shop you would do
well to pay us a visit. Our range of quality
wholefoods includes a very comprehensive
selection of organic products, including
the Infinity foods Organic label. Where
non-organic or natural foods are stocked,
we aim to provide products of high quality,
minimal processing and GM free.“
Susie, Cornerweighs

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What to expect during an Ayurvedic Massage
therapy session
If you have never had one, you might be wondering what is an Ayurvedic Massage Treatment and how it
differs from a regular massage. Because everyone is unique, special handcrafted organic oils are used which
are infused with Ayurvedic herbs for your individual body-mind constitution (Doshas)
The oils are heated to a comfortable temperature and are applied during a whole body massage involving the
back, arms, hands, neck, head, legs, feet, and hips.
I will also massage the marmas points (similar to acupressure points) throughout the body massage. These
are considered to be the seat of vital energy (prana) and by massaging, this helps to mobilise blocked energy.
You will be covered with soft towels throughout the treatment, and only the parts being massaged will be
exposed, ensuring you feel warm and secure.
Your hair will also come in contact with the oils; the oils are good for your skin and hair and offers deep
nourishment.
If you would like to try an Ayurvedic Massage, please contact me, Catherine Hanicotte on:

s a Connector Plus
Coordinator my job
is to help residents of
Henfield who may not know
many people in the village
or know what is available for
them, to help increase their
wellbeing and enjoyment of
living in the village.
During the course of my work ‘baby and toddler
groups’ came up as an area in need of some help.
These groups are essential to any community for
socialising, support and contact for new parents,
often new mums, and their children. Here is a list
of groups in the Henfield area that always welcome
new visitors, if you’re a new mum, or a parent,
grandparent or carer of a pre-school child, please
read on to see what’s available to you.
You might like to be involved starting up and
helping with a new group in the area. Meeting up
with other parents who can understand the day
to day struggles and joys of raising children is
invaluable and often you form friendships that can
last a lifetime.
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Please contact me if you would like any further
information to help and support in setting up a
group or activity, I will endeavor to connect you
to the right support. Connector Plus also runs a
befriending service if you would like someone to
come with you to a group or activity.
If you are interested in volunteering to help with the
Connector Plus service in its befriending capacity or
helping to connect Henfield resident to what’s going
on in the village, please get in contact. Alexandra
Nevatt, Connector Plus Coordinator, based at The
Haven, Hewitts, Henfield. 01273 494747 or email:
connector.plus@impact-initiatives.org.uk
Alex Nevatt, Connector Plus
If you know of any other groups or activities
that fit into this category please let us know
at
www.henfieldbn5.co.uk,
group
entry
listings are completely free and we have a
diary of events with over 1,400 published.
We can also offer editorial features in
BN5 magazine for your group or club to
encourage more members, please email
editor@bn5magazine.co.uk for information.
Editor

Advanced Clinical & Sports Massage
for the Treatment of Chronic Pain
nb treatments are a fusion of Eastern and Western
methods that can help reduce pain and/or increase
range of movement about a joint. The focus is on results.
Effective for

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2 bedroom maisonette in Small Dole. Bright
lounge with views of the countryside, main
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Gas central heating. Allocated off street
parking. Ready to move in now.

DON’T MAKE A PROMISE YOU CAN’T KEEP!
There are many things that can occur as a result of a
couple of “social” beers in the pub. This article is hopefully
suitable for anyone with a reading age of 10 and above,
so while there are quite a few stories I could tell on this
subject (that I can remember), I’m going to keep this
family friendly! Hard as it may seem to recall, we had a
lovely, warm summer last year and one evening, I had
arranged to meet some friends at local pub with a good
selection of real ales. It was a balmy evening, so I thought
I’d cycle there and burn off a few pre-beer calories in the
process.
I’m not normally much of a cycler, so I arrived feeling
suitably self-righteous (and a bit sweaty) to be greeted by
friends who had arrived more conventionally, by car. The
conversation predictably turned to exercise and fitness,
and one of my friends reminded me that last season I
had agreed to join the hockey team that he played for
and had reneged on my promise. At this point, having
consumed a fair bit of 7.5% porter and still smug from my
cycling prowess, I was quick to vow that I would definitely
join the ranks of the Mid Sussex Men’s hockey team in
the season to come. The next morning, my thoughts were
mainly on what could only be described as a terrifying
cycle home down some dark country lanes with some bike
lights that would make Florence Nightingale’s lamp seem
like the Star of David. I forgot all about my oath until an
email came through in September advising me of the first
hockey fixture of the season.

discomfort that many of our elderly pets suffer from in the
form of osteoarthritis. This is very common in dogs as they
age and also affects a proportion of cats. Larger breeds
of dog, such as Labradors are more prone, but any breed
can be susceptible. Pets with arthritis will experience
anything from low grade constant pain to acute pain if an
affected joint is over-exerted or suffers trauma/damage
of any kind. The most common early signs of arthritis
are stiffness on rising when a pet has been lying down,
lameness, licking of the underlying joint and slowing down
on walks. They are normally worse in the colder, winter
months.
If your pet is showing any of these signs, it is worth
getting them assessed. There are many treatment options
available ranging from joint supplements, acupuncture,
anti-inflammatories, joint injections and even some
surgical procedures such as arthroscopy. We offer free
assessments with our experienced nurses to assess for
elderly problems such as arthritis, or you can have a
consultation with one of our vets. There’s a lot we can do,
but unfortunately nothing to make middle-aged Achilles
tendons young again! Please get in touch if you would like
to arrange an appointment.

There was nothing else to do, but dust down my hockey
stick, which had been idle since the arrival of our firstborn
6 years ago, and set off to the match. I did a token warm
up involving a couple of “lunges” and an attempt at
touching my toes and jogged onto the pitch, just like I had
back in the day. Actually the match went pretty well – we
won and I even scored a goal! It wasn’t until the next day
when the repercussions set in – getting out of bed was
painful enough and going up and down stairs was a
definite no-no! After a week of discomfort, I consulted a
physiotherapist who advised that I had “Achilles tendonitis”
– common in middle aged men who play sports only on
weekends without much exercise in between. That’ll be me
then! I’m happy to say that this hasn’t stopped my hockey
come-back, but does mean a fairly persistent, dull ache
as the tendons slowly get used to the extra stresses and
strains that middle aged life doesn’t normally require!
The result of this is that I am much more aware of the

Please feel free to contact Jonathan and Annelise
Underwood MRCVS and associates to discuss any aspect
of your pets’ care at the practice.

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01273 494002

B N5 M AG AZ I NE | 5 1

The Old Mill Removal & Storage
Company Ltd , Henfield
Family Founded Business - 45 years experience

Registered in England No. 4117727
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
Warning: The value of investment may go down as well as up.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up the repayments
on a mortgage or other loan secured on it.

ove is in the air for our garden birds as they
start preparing for the breeding season,
preening their feathers to perfection and
starting to sing again as males try to lure in the
ladies and drive off any rivals. Soon they’ll be on
the lookout for the best place to build a nest and
raise a family: a cosy tree cavity, a dense thicket
of ivy, a penthouse under the eaves – or perhaps a
newly-built nest box.
February 14th marks the start of National Nest Box
Week, so now is the perfect time to put up a box
or two. It’s important to choose the right design:
blue tits, great tits and sparrows like an enclosed
box with a small (32mm) entry hole; starlings
need a bigger box with a larger (45mm) entrance;
whereas robins, blackbirds, thrushes and wrens
prefer an open-fronted box. A good quality nest
box will be made of thick wood or Woodcrete so
that it’s waterproof and well insulated to protect
the occupants from getting too hot or too cold.
Once your bird box is ready, it’s all down to
location. Choose a sheltered spot away from the
prevailing wind, rain and direct sunlight, either on a
tree, fence or wall. Face nest boxes between north
and east; small-hole boxes should be fixed at a
height of 2 – 4 metres with a clear flight path to
the entrance, whereas open-fronted boxes need
to be lower down and hidden from view amongst
vegetation. Starlings and sparrows like to be high
up and tend to nest in loose colonies, so you could
space out several boxes under the eaves on the
same side of the house to encourage these birds
to breed.
There’s no need to add any nesting materials
as the birds will find their own. Moss, dry grass,
pine needles, dead leaves, lichen, twigs and soft
mud from the edges of garden ponds are all used
for nest building. If you do want to add a little
extra then horse hair, dog fur, sheep’s wool or
feathers from old pillows can make excellent lining
materials, and you can provide these either in piles
around the garden or stuffed inside a suet feeder.
By Charlotte Owen, WildCall Officer, Sussex Wildlife Trust

Pre-booking is essential for most events.
For more information, details of costs involved
and to book, please see
www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on,
or call 01273 497532.
BUILD A BIRD NEST BOX
Sat 16 Feb, 10am – 12pm
Help us celebrate National Nest Box Week by
using hand tools to build your own bird nest box
to take home with you. Family event.
WINTER BIRD WALK
Tue 19 Feb, 8am - 10am
Join us as we set out to explore Woods Mill in
late winter, observing and identifying the bird
species that inhabit the reserve. Free event, no
booking required, just turn up!
BIRDSONG FOR BEGINNERS
Fri 26 Apr, 10am - 4pm
In the spring the birds in our gardens, parks and
woodlands are singing to proclaim their territories
and attract a mate. But how many of these war
cries and love songs do you recognise?
DAWN CHORUS
Sun 5 May 4.15am - 7am approx
Experience the spring dawn chorus at Woods
Mill on International Dawn Chorus Day. After
the performance, we’ll finish off with a lovely
continental breakfast.
AN EVENING WITH NIGHTINGALES
Tue 7 May, 7.30pm – 10pm approx
Join us for a special evening where we’ll learn
about the nightingale’s life and folklore in an
illustrated indoor session, followed by a walk
around the reserve where we will hopefully get
the chance to hear one.

THE OWLS OF SUSSEX
8th, 11th, 15th & 18th Sep
Owls are popular birds, but their nocturnal habits
means they are elusive and rarely seen. Learn
about their ecology, diets, behaviour and how to
identify them by sight and by call.

B N5 M AG AZ I NE | 5 5

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B N5 M AG AZ I NE | 6 3

What’s new for 2019...
Whilst Brexit and its consequences loom large, as
we go to print still nothing has been confirmed one
way or other. Hopefully next month I can cover the
ramifications of what the MPs have voted for on the
Brexit front, but please don’t hold me to it! Therefore
this month I take a look at what we do know is
happening on the finance front in 2019.
Pensions Dashboard - One of the biggest shake-ups
of 2019 from a personal finance perspective will be
the launch of the long-awaited pensions dashboard.
Despite speculation that the entire project would be
ditched altogether, the government unveiled proposals
late last year which confirmed that the pensions
dashboard was going ahead. There are plenty of
positives for savers, including the simplification of
a complex and clunky system. It will also mean that
you can finally see information from multiple pension
schemes in one place online, reducing the likelihood
of you ‘losing’ a pension. By giving savers an overall
picture of their pension pot, the dashboard could
incentivise everyone to save more for retirement.
Auto-Enrolment Boost - From April, minimum autoenrolment contribution levels rise to 8% (of which
employers pay 3%). This is up from the current level
of 5% (of which employers pay 2%). In its brief fouryear history, auto-enrolment has already proved
hugely successful, encouraging millions to save for
retirement. However, with employee contributions
rising to 5% from the current 3%, many will probably
feel the pinch, particularly while salaries remain
stagnant. The worry is that the contribution increase
will prompt people to opt out of their workplace
pension scheme. Remember though, that opting out
means that you miss out on pension tax breaks, which
apply to your employer’s contribution, as well as your
own.
There have been talks to extend auto-enrolment to
the self-employed, with the government publishing
a report outlining how this would work in practice.
However the recommendations proved disappointing
and were widely criticised by the pensions industry.
So if you’re self-employed, you might have to wait a bit
longer for good news on the pension front.
Allowance Increases - This year marks some changes
to the amount you earn before tax, with the Personal
Allowance threshold rising to £12,500 in April, up
from the current £11,850. This amounts to an extra
£130 each year. It’s even better news for those on
high tax bands, with the government raising the 40%
tax band from the current £46,350 limit to those
earning more than £50,000 a year.

Death Tax Overhaul - There are some major
changes afoot as to how beneficiaries of Estates are
taxed when a loved one dies. The government has
recognised that the hugely unpopular inheritance tax
(IHT) is overdue a major overhaul and has proposed
that the IHT service gets a much needed digital
makeover, streamlining the form-filling process, and
improving communication with HMRC.
The second set of recommendations is due to be
published in the Spring, which will give us a clue as
to how the government plans to change some of the
technical aspects of IHT. Admittedly, we might not see
any changes implemented this year, but 2019 marks
the start of a radical shake-up that will come as a
relief to taxpayers. And at some point down the line,
you will no longer have to navigate through a complex
web of rules, while you are coming to terms with the
death of someone you love.
Probate Fee Structure - While improvements to IHT
are welcome, many families are unhappy about the
upcoming changes to probate fees. A fee is charged
when applying for a document known as a ‘grant of
probate’, which gives you legal access to someone’s
money, property and possessions when they pass
away. At the moment, there is a flat fee of £215.
But in April the government is introducing a sliding
scale structure, where you can be charged up to
£6,000 depending on the value of the Estate you are
inheriting. For a lot of households, this is a massive
jump in cost, and means that people will have to figure
out the logistics of paying this sum of money upfront.
Of course, these are just some of the planned
changes that will hit finances, and don’t account for
the multitude of other shifts that will indirectly affect
your wealth. With so much hanging in the balance with
Brexit, it’s likely that house prices, interest rates, and
the value of sterling will alter dramatically depending
on the outcome. But when it comes to your finances,
try and focus on what you can control, rather than
what is out of your hands.